What does it mean if monocytes are high?
Disease description:
Recently, I went to the hospital for a medical checkup, and my doctor told me that my monocyte count was high. I would like to know what causes an elevated monocyte count?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Elevated monocytes may be caused by the following reasons:
1. Infections: Intracellular parasitic pathogens such as Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, often accompanied by symptoms like fever.
2. Autoimmune diseases: Such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, leading to abnormal immune system activity.
3. Hematologic diseases: Such as monocytic leukemia, malignant histiocytosis, causing abnormal hematopoietic function.
4. Recovery phase: During recovery from acute infection or inflammation, monocytes may temporarily increase to aid in repair and clearance of inflammation.
5. Physiological increase: Commonly seen in infants, children, where monocyte counts are often higher than in adults.
When monocyte levels are elevated, it is recommended to conduct a comprehensive evaluation combining other clinical symptoms and diagnostic tests.
